There are fierce debates about the dangers and benefits of caffeine, not only between doctors, but also between champions of a healthy diet and just people who care about their health. That is why they are trying to find new alternatives to this natural stimulant, which have a milder biological effect.
Well-known blogger John Fawkes has published the top 10 remedies that could be a healthier alternative to caffeine. We present to your attention this list.
10. Soda and juice
Fawkes insists that it’s much easier to turn addiction into something more useful than completely defeating it. For example, if you can’t imagine your morning without a cup of aromatic espresso, which gives you a boost of energy for the rest of the day, then you can try to gradually replace it with soda with the addition of natural fruit juice. This cocktail is also able to have some stimulating effect on your body, so in this case, your voluntary refusal of caffeine will not be accompanied by a strong “breakdown”.
9. L-tyrosine
Scientists have proven that caffeine reduces the concentration of tyrosine in brain cells. If you take tyrosine tablets, then you can stimulate mental activity, avoiding the negative side effects characteristic of the systematic use of coffee or other products with a high caffeine content.
100-500 mg of pure tyrosine can replace one cup of coffee. It should also be noted that tyrosine tablets are not addictive. Unlike “caffeine addiction”, if tyrosine is enough for the body, then the physiological need for it is reduced.
8. Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetylcarnitine
The combination of these two means provides a powerful surge of strength and energy. Alpha lipoic acid is involved in the transfer of fatty acids to those tissues that at a particular point in time are more in need of additional energy released during their breakdown. Thus, stimulation of the physical and mental activity of a person is provided. In addition, such a medical combination allows you to quickly and effectively make the brain “work” in enhanced mode. However, the consequences of such stimulation is a sharp drop in the level of glucose in the body, so after taking these drugs you need to eat tightly.
7. Ginkgo Biloba
The famous nootropic agent Ginko Biloba is endowed with a unique composition that includes more than a hundred valuable substances. Due to this, the drug has many useful properties, one of which is the stimulation of short-term memory. Ginko Biloba also significantly slows down the aging process of the skin (due to its high content), has an immunomodulatory effect and reduces the intensity of inflammatory reactions. However, it also has its side effects, such as headache, diarrhea, panic attacks, tachycardia, nausea, or vomiting. Such negative phenomena occur quite rarely and are mainly associated with a violation of the dosage regimen of the drug.
6. Piracetam and Noopept
These two drugs have a similar effect on the physiological processes in the brain cells. Piracetam is probably by far the most popular nootropic drug. Its therapeutic effect is due to increased permeability of cell membranes in brain cells, due to which there is an acceleration of metabolism. Noopept less known, but also in demand. This tool contributes to the process of the appearance of new nerve cells.
Both of these drugs include a long course of treatment.
5. Kratom
Unfortunately, Kratom, for all its positive qualities, has one significant drawback - it, like caffeine, is addictive. At the same time, there are a lot of rave reviews on the network of people who have tested it on themselves. Fawkes himself, relying on his own impressions, claims that Kratom improves mood, stimulates concentration of attention and increases working capacity.
4. Salt and lemon juice
This invigorating cocktail does not have a direct stimulating effect (unlike caffeine), but at the same time it provides the cells with the resource necessary for the secretion of thyroid hormones and adrenal glands, which have a direct impact on human performance and mental activity. This drink is very good to take in the morning - thanks to it, it will be easier for you to get away from sleep and quickly tune into a working mood.
The cocktail recipe is extremely simple: you need to mix 6 ounces of room temperature water, one ounce of lime and a quarter teaspoon of gray or pink salt.
3. Ginseng
Ginseng is one of the most popular adaptogens. It is able to help a person adapt to a stressful situation. Therefore, it is useful to take it during periods of severe mental or physical overload, when the body is especially in need of "doping." For example, it can be preparation for a session or work on a complex project at work that requires focus and attention.
Ginseng also has a large list of therapeutic properties and affects a wide variety of biochemical processes in the tissues of the body. Thus, products with the addition of ginseng root have a tonic effect, stimulate appetite, accelerate the recovery of body forces after undergoing severe surgical interventions, and increase efficiency.
Ginseng can be taken in tablet form, or in the form of herbal tea.
2. Bright blue light on the face
With the help of such a peculiar color therapy, it is possible to give the brain a false signal that at the moment there is a daily cycle, as a result of which, it will begin to suppress the processes that adjust the human body to rest. Half an hour of blue light gives as much energy as a large mug of strong coffee, only without negative effects on the nervous system of caffeine and addiction.
1. Minute walk
It is proved that the brain functions with much greater intensity if a person is in a standing position. If you feel a little tired, you sit down or lie down, then immediately you want to give a damn about everything and forget about the baby’s sleep.
For example, if you really want to sleep while driving, you can stop for a while and walk a bit to cheer up. By this, you will “tell” your brain that you don’t have the opportunity to fully rest now, so it will have to use the reserve capabilities to provide your vigor for some more time.